Construction insurance firms can expect to cut losses from earthquakes with the development and ubiquitous use of fibre reinforced concrete (FRC).
FRC is concrete reinforced with steel regular sized fibres that hold the material together after it has cracked.
University of Michigan and University of Wisconsin-Madison research into the use of FRC in walls and coupling beams showed that reinforcing steel can be reduced significantly without compromising safety. FRC structures in the said study also showed less damage after testing.
Thus, FRC is expected to reduce the cost of post-earthquake repair, leading to lower cost of safe buildings and reduced life cycle costs for the owners.
